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Cited by 172Aging and Gerontology ResearchPsychological Well-being and Life SatisfactionPersonality Traits and Psychology

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Three paths of adult development: Conservers, seekers, and achievers

Helson, Ravenna, Srivastava, Sanjay·2001·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
DOI 10.1037/0022-3514.80.6.995
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Abstract

This study examined the development of individuals whose motivations and skills led them to develop in different but equally positive ways. C. D. Ryff's (1989) scales for Environmental Mastery (EM) and Personal Growth (PG) were used to identify three configurations of positive mental health in 111 women of the Mills Longitudinal Study: Achievers, high on both scales; Conservers, high on EM, low on PG; and Seekers, high on PG, low on EM. Each pattern showed a distinctive profile of strengths on four criteria of maturity--competence, generativity, ego development, and wisdom--and each was predicted by distinctive features of positive and negative emotionality, identity processes, and change in self-control across 31 years of adulthood. Identity at age 43 mediated the influence of personality at age 21 in predicting positive mental health pattern at age 60.

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Metadata

Authors
Helson, R., & Srivastava, S.
Affiliations
University of California, Berkeley (US)
ORCID
Srivastava, Sanjay
Venue
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
Publisher
American Psychological Association (APA)
Published
2001
Volume
80
Issue
6
Pages
995-1010
ISSN
  • 0022-3514 (ISSN-L)
  • 1939-1315
DOI
10.1037/0022-3514.80.6.995
OpenAlex
W2132091902
Cited by
172
References
81
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 14 · 2012: 8
FWCI
7.04
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Mental Health (MH 43948, R01MH043948)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Aging and Gerontology Research
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Traits and Psychology
Keywords
adult development, positive mental health, environmental mastery, personal growth, personality development, identity processes, self-control, generativity, ego development, wisdom, emotional development, women
MeSH terms
Achievement, Adult, Female, Humans, Individuality, Internal-External Control, Mental Health, Middle Aged, Personality Development, Personality Inventory, Prognosis, Social Environment, Social Values

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CoChat. (2026). Citation check: Three paths of adult development: Conservers, seekers, and achievers. https://app.cochat.ai/papers/10.1037/0022-3514.80.6.995
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Helson, R., & Srivastava, S. (2001). Three paths of adult development: Conservers, seekers, and achievers. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.80.6.995